Self-lubricating fan



SELF LUBRIGATING FAN I Ingram 1 Aug. 26, 1930; F. A. sMrrH SELF LUBRICATING FAN Filed vDec. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #30 @Secedf lateileheriiig curved-'a9 -f y Patented Aug.' 2 6, 1930 ,Y f

SIGANIMLENTs,rv TOmiIDMLLEeHERSHEY 092129111111011; i

VMllhisfinv'encionrelates vto' a novel fan con.-

structionof thegeneral type employedinlcon-l nec'tiongpwith automobile, engines, and is; di` rected# more particularlyto the problem ofy 6 providing ,dependable automatic lubrication Y ',facesofthe fan.

. A-Otheriobjects relate to features o-vconstrucf tion and design conducive to simplicity and rheapness ofy manufactune. ,Kn-illustrative 116 embodiment Qofmy inventionis found .in the accompanyingdrawin'gs wherein:-

- a fan constructed in accordance with my in-v ventlolyf` VAao f L Figures'ze, and 3 iiretaiied views fofltlie channeled lubricantlcondlitlgplkt,

' second plate. which cooperates with the chan.

" ,lMy,improvedfan,construction'iglbtatblv mounted Ikorifa :fixed lor stationary s n p indlelg The body or supportnglstiuctureo the Spindle and 4provideduat `one end With 'a';

' thereyvthftoeform urvdvradelextendingl @lubricant passages! if Thisfpl'ete 13 may y i icur-edtotheaceoithe'plateln @undesired @.5 1 y manner:butasherenfshown,met@-Plts i are adapted to .vbeunited by ,spotV Welding'at: v Y a"'plurality of points adj agent .thereof-f Th las herein shmzvni-` :Thefcentral portionof this spider isin-l theformofia dscor plate 'which carries radiallygextendingfand va'ngularlyfdiscured: i

il Inorderfto accommodatelagconstant vim?.rundem I have provided 'a' .cy1ndr1ca1;- f

'Washer YA =cornprisesan elongated 'sleelvefjournaled :on radial ex thefmeanshereinaffterdescribediorlubricgtf y ing the bearing surfaces ofthe :anm'llheout'er face 'of theilange y3 is recessed tojpn ide paf second 'lubricant chamber 9 into '-wlhich" the, aperture 8 vis adapted @to Y conduct lubricant. This lrecess 9fijs closed by thefants'pider boltedpr otherwise securedtorthe-.outer vfaces of the flange 3. Mounted withinfthissecond lubricant .chamber 9 vis lubricant collecting `i 7 andlvonveymgi .Structure-whichjis adapted to, rcelv, the Lubricant dwhuged throughfftha aperture-Sandcondutthesamere iaflly inf Ward'to @bearing-Surfaces ofthe-sleeves@ Spindle'- .W This; structurel .cmprfes ai thrust Washer ffll which ahnte ther end of Spindle `lvand'alsosetsntoarecess'formedin theend of the sleeve 2*.and @buts thesbsesurface of this recess, thereby acting tojreceive the 1071,1-

tion. Thisthrnstpvvasher is provid apertures' leefwhch register-.witbv-an a vand@daafer,itilefspimile 11e-wash further provided Withfsse c. rphery thereof, whchrecessesereedepte i receive lugs orears15Which-are'stiflicloiitik 'recess 14? fQrmedin-thelendfoftheel@ Y in finonntedndiacentthe plate-1,2 andrews-irate? d epassegeslterm at. a'nor n? registration 'w of them her en dglfi'ef,

be` iiiiovflsleenY f with endingepresswespl therein-s f Y c xep32,lilileherles plug through which lubricant may be introduced. Suitable packings are preferably employed between the radially extending flange 7 of the casing and the flange 3 of the sleeve, as well as between the fan spider 4 and the fiange 3. Spirally arranged oil grooves are provided on the inner surface of the sleeve 2 at the rear end thereof for conveying lubricant forwardly from around the packing 21 and discharging the same outwardly through'the radial apertures 20 of the sleeve. This latter feature is provided in order to relieve the lubricant pressure from around the packing 21. It is to be noted that the bolt 1'0 that secures the lubricant conducting assembly in position is provided with an enlarged flat head adjacent the fan spider 4. This latter arrangement is such as to afford a thrust bearing surface for receiving the longitudinal thrust of the fan structure in one direction, the thrust in the opposite direction being taken by the thrust washer above mentioned. "In operation, the lubricant disposed within the casing 6 is centrifugally discharged through the aperture 8 where it is received by the passages 16 and conducted `inwardly and discharged through apertures 14 andlfl to the'annular recess 14 at the meeting surfacesV of the sleeve and spindle. This is in eect a 'force feed `lubrication inasmuch as considerable centrifugal force is created by the rotation of the fan, which force is utilized to discharge lubricant to the conducting structure. y

`The structure described above is of such a, character that-thev component parts there- "ef may forthe most part be formed of sheet metal by simplestamping processes and for this treason" the structure offers advantages from the standpoint of economy of manufacture. '-`Moreover, the structure does not em body any added movable parts which might eventually Vrequire repair or replacement.

VW'hile it is apparent that many changes might be made by one skilled in the art, I nevertheless prefer the construction herein illustrated Y and described but desire that it be understood 1 that I do not intend to limit the invention to 'ofthe limitations contained `in the exact `details disclosed beyond the extent he appended claims. y

WhatI claim is: "-1. In a device of the character described, the` combination of a fixed spindle, of a sleeve jornaled on said spindle and having a radiallyextendin" fiange secured thereto, said Q Lilange having 1n its outer face` a concentricallyfdisposed circularv recess, the base of said recess beingsubstantially flush with the end face of said spindle, a thrustwasher disposed insaid recess and engaging" the base there fofand the end face of said spindle whereby tofreceive lthe longitudinal thrustof said sleeve 'and means for securing said thrust lubricant collecting and conveying device washer to said spindle, said means comprising a bolt threaded into the end of said spindle, a fan spider secured to the outer face of said flange adapted to engage the head of said bolt, whereby the longitudinal thrust of said sleeve in the opposite direction is received by said bolt and a lubricant collecting device mounted on said bolt intermediate the head thereof and said thrust washer. 2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed spindle, of a fan structure journaled on said spindle, said fan structure embodying two separate but communicating chambers, one being adapted to contain a lubricantsupplv and to discharge under centrifugal force into the other, said other chamber being disposed beyond the outer end of said spindle a lubricantV conducting means located in said other chamber and adaptedvto receive lubricant discharged from said supply chamber `and conduct it inwardly'to the bearing surfaces of saidspindle and fan structure,said conducting means comprising a plate having curved radial depressions and a 'second plate cooperating with the first said plate to define lubricant passagesand means for securing said plates together and to the outerend of said spindle. `3'. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed spindle, of a sleeve journaled on-'said spindle and having a-r'adially extending flange secured thereto, said, flange having in its outer face aA concentrically.` disposed circular recess the base whereof lies substantially flush with the end face of said spindle, a headed bolt threaded in the end of said spindle, a thrust washer mounted on said bolt and adapted to engage the end face of said spindle and the base of said recess, a lubricant collecting vand conveying device mounted on said bolt intermediate the head thereof and said thrust washer and interlocking connectionsfbetween said and said thrust washer. Y f

4;y A self lubricating fan substantially as defined in claim 3 and wherein said thrust washer isl provided Vwith passages communieating with said lubricant collecting and conveying'device and with the coacting bearingsurfaces of said sleeveL and spindle.

115.A self lubricating fan comprising in combination, a fixed spindle, a sleeve journaled on said spindle and having a `radially extending flange secured thereto, vsaid flange having in its outer face a concentricallyvdisposed circularrecess the base. whereof lies substantiallyflush with the end face of Y said s indle, a headedv lbolt-'threaded in the endo saidfspindle, a thrust washer mounted onfsaid bolt and adapted to engage the end face of said spindleand the base of said recess, `a lubricant collecting 4device mounted on said -'bolt intermediate the head `thereof and said thrust washer, said device comprising a disc mounted on said bolt' adjacent saidthrust washer and having a tongue land slot connection therewith, a second "discmounted on said bolt rand secured tothe first said dist; said second dischaving,substantially v radially disposed depressions formed there- V in whereby to form, in conjunction'Withthe first dise, lubricant passages, the said boltl serving` to secure the said thrust washer and discs in assembled relationfwith the end of v the spindle. '-i Y c l6. A self lubricating `fan substantially as w defined in claim and wherein said thrust v washer and iirst mentioneddisc are provided y with aligned apertures having communicac tion with the passages formed by the two saidl discs and with thecoacting bearingsurfaces of the sleevefand spindle. f n

In testimony whereof I aix my-sig'nature. 1 if d, FREDRIGK ARTHUR SMITH. 

